Red Raiders Capture First Track State Championship

The disappointment of not repeating as sectional champions lasted just one week for the Ocean City High School boys' winter track squad.

The Red Raiders scored 48 points to edge Oakcrest by nine to capture the NJSIAA Group III State Championship in Toms River. The championship comes just a week after Oakcrest topped Ocean City to win sectionals.

"Overall, it was a great day for us," Ocean City senior Miles Schoedler. "It was a historic day for us. It was our first state title in track."

The Red Raiders entered the event focused on individual performances, but that changed when Schoedler and Erik Johnson finished first and second, respectively, in the 1,600-meter run.

Schoedler finished the mile in 4:16.57 seconds, and Johnson came in at 4:24.15.

"When Erik and I came in 1-2 in the 1,600, that sparked a great day for us," Schoedler said.

With Ocean City in the hunt for a title, Schoedler decided to run in the 800 as well.

He won the event in 1:57.59.

Ocean City's James O'Connor win in the high jump and Michael Craig's victory in the pole vault propelled the Red Raiders to the title.

O'Conner cleared 6-4, and Craig went over at 14-6 to tie the meet record set by Seneca's Michael Maira in 2009. The next closest competitor cleared 13-9.

"It showed that we can score in multiple events and we can win on any given day," Schoedler said. "We had just four kids, but it showed we have a strong core."

All four Red Raiders qualified for next week's Meet of Champions, where every athlete who finished in the top six of their respective groups will compete against each other.